Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-10

VI IOuS ytdIS, VI uoI JOuIll, WAS uy lily
but dying as the strong die, in silence
The faith that had lived in her hear
for this man was breaking as breal
the gossamers of the spiders weaving
in the storm; but she gave no cry,
made no sound, only stood, heart-sick
and soul-wounded, on the very edge O.
the shadows.
'.If Inez heard you say that, / think
she would set you free!" laughed Bea
trice.
And Tnez, with a sudden hardly.
drawn breath crossing her whitened
lips. advanced till she stood beside
them.
"You are right, my cousin" she said
unwaveringly. 81 have heard, and
set him free-free of all things save the
reproach I must ever feel for an acted
lie. Here, Roy!'
She drew off and extended towards
him the ring with which he had plight
ed her.
He, startled, shamed, shrinking un-
der the steady scornful gaze of her
dark eyes, with his arms fallen from
about her cousin, and his own face
crimson with hot, traitor-blood, felt
the old spell fall over his heart once
more and the new one pass from it.
'1nez," he said pleadingly, "listen.
/ will -"
But she Enclosed her fingers, and
the ring fell at his feet. She turned
and passed again into the shadows.
Beatrice laid her hand on his arm
and smiled in his face.
''You are free now, Roy" she said
softly. care you not gladp"
He looked down at the fair face that
had SO charmed him, and it suddenly
lost all beauty for him.
You want me to answer honestly?"
''Why, of coursep'
''Then"-he spoke through shut teeth
and more cruelty than he realized
''then, Beatrice, no, [ am not glad!
| would give all | own to have all
things as they were before your COM
ing between Inez and myself. Now
you understand, and now will you
care to wear the ring she cast back to
mep"
A hot color lived transiently IN the
pretty face, then died; look of pain
was followed by a flaming wrath in
the blue eyes.
''No!' rang out her angry silver
tones; "no, Roy Alton! False to her,
and false as we'll to me! FAREWELL
And she left him standing, wonder
ing at his own sensations, feeling a
dull pain at his heart for the broken
troth, although an hour before he had
wished it broken.
Fate sometimes grants a prayer, in
very scorn of man.
Five years later, Inez Claire, still
unwedded, although Beatrice had for
years been the wife of a man old
enough to be her father, but wealthy
Inez Claire entered city hospital by
merest chance.
The nurses were gliding from couch
to couch, silent, gentle, soothing, now
laying soft cool hands on a flushed
cheek, now touching with silent fingers
a bandage, now holding draught to
fevered lips.
Inez followed one whose voice and
touch seemed to calm and heal, as she
went among the sufferers; and this one
paused at last, and stood long gazing
on the wan worn face of man which
lay still on its pillow
Such white cold face-such thin
bloodless face. Inez felt her own
pulses pause as she looked on it; then
a low agonized cry broke from her,
and she darted forward and caught the
nurses arm.
SIS he dead? Oh, tell me that he is
not dead-my love- my lover
Tho nurca too1r h ho,,I rron+1r- onI
laid a finger on her own lips.
HE is sleeping" she said softly;
''they sleep so after long fever. All,
his eyes unclose! Back, my dear lady.
Do not let him see you, lest it should
excite him, and he is so weak"
But his lids had lifted. his eyes were
fastened on the face of Inez, and with
an effort he put out a thin weak hand.
''Inez," he whispered; "Inez, will
you stay beside me for little while?
1t will be but little while, for I am
dying. But stay, Inez, because-be-
cause, dear, have seen no woman
like you in all the years since that May
night, and my-my-my heart has
ached for you-beyond my telling. |
was weak, false, but-but- -"
him until her lips almost touched his
cheek; ''speak no more, Roy. | will
stay, and you shall not die, for have
pardoned the past, and the old love
has not persisted"
Stay" whispered the nurse; "bid
him sleep, and have no fear for his
life. He is but weak after long
fever"
And SO they met, and the old love
which had slept for brief time in the
mans heart, lulled by the charm of .
new fair face, awakened to sleep nc
more; and the woman, never having
forgotten, forgave as readily as most
loving women do, even the lover
who returns repentant from his stray
ing.
A month later there was 4 quiet
wedding, at which Beatrice was moi
present. When she heard. the fail
beauty smiled trifie scornfully.
s'How can she trust him?a she asked
'tHe was false to her once. and as false
to me, she added with touch of angry